I recently Purchased a Samurai Sword online and I wanted to know what it says on the blade. I am somewhat familiar with Hiragana Japanese syllabary and reading Kanji. I have translated the center (Hiragana) to literally read out “shitsu iru” Which makes no sense to me. Can someone please tell me what the entire inscription means? Will give points for best answer. Thanks
LINK TO INSCRIPTION IMAGE: (I outlined the script to make it easier to read)
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i131/seniorortega/outline.jpg
(I have a suspicion that the inscription is absolute gibberish since on the website they claim that “Yoru Doragon” means Black Dragon…which of course is false since Black Dragon is “kokuryuu”…So a confirmation either way is fine).
With a combination of the answers I have been able to figure it out for myself.
団結している刃物 As It is Inscribed.
Is actually the Kanji “United Cutlery” Split by the hiragana shite iru ( the verbs te and Iru combined mean “to be doing (something)” and in the Shite iru form it means “to do”, or “to play”
SO:
yunaiteddo shite iru hamono means United to do cutlery.
or in common English “Blades are united”
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wow, you really have a crucially important piece of history . The translation is one of the Ming Emporers outbursts of rage at having his morning tea served late. ie ”ieeee iss maaddee offff wiiith heeerr heedd.”
It says “Made in China.”
The first two kanji read as “danketsu”, meaning “unity”.
The hiragana read as “shiteiru” (shitei can mean “messenger” or “servant”).
The last two kanji read as “hamono”, meaning “edged tool”.
So it seems like the inscription means “this sword is the servant of unity” or something like that.
“Knife that unites”
Although the grammar is off, I see it as 団結してる刃物: The blade that unifies.